The Caribbean

1
The Caribbean

• Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad Bahamas, Cuba
  Dominican Republic

2
Caribbean Map
3
Background Preparation

• Tropical islands
• Linguistic diversity due to colonization
• Slave trade - Indentured workers
• Cross-cultural creations

4
Haiti

• Site 1 Vodou Ritual

5
Arrival Haiti

• Western region of Hispaniola
• Spanish then French colonization
• First independent Caribbean nation (1804)
• Economic hardships

6
Site 1 Vodou Ritual

• First Impressions
• Rhythmically dense African sound
• Aural Analysis
• Rada drums with polyrhythmic percussion
• Call Response
• Vaksin -bamboo trumpets

Rada drums
7
Cultural Considerations

• Vodou other African derived religions
• Loa/Orisha - Animistic deities
• Roman Catholic syncretism
• Spirit possession - Horses
• Function of music

8
Jamaica

• Site 2 Reggae

9
Arrival Jamaica

• Former British colony
• Tourism and Trenchtown
• Bob Marley (1945-1981)

Bob Marley(1945-1981)
10
Site 2 Reggae

• First Impressions
• Laid back beat
• Lesson Lyrics
• Aural Analysis
• Upbeat emphasized
• Heavy bass and thin guitar
• Challenging social commentary

11
Cultural Considerations

• Rastafarianism
• Look to Africa
• Rasta references
• Jah
• Dreadlocks
• Ganja
• Babylonians

Ethiopian Flag
Ras Tafari MekonnenHaile Selassie I(1892-1970)
Jamaican Flag
12
Trinidad Tobago

• Site 3 Calypso
• Site 4 Steel Band

13
Arrival Trinidad Tobago

• Former British colony
• Africans, East Indians, and Chinese
• Pitch Lake oil
• Carnival

A Carnival King
14
Site 3 Calypso

• First Impressions
• Small dance band with talking vocalist
• Aural Analysis
• Calypso artists
• Witty social commentary
• Memorable music
• Western instruments
• Steel Drum common in modern Calypso

15
Cultural Considerations

• Classic Calypso
• Calypso competitions
• Soca (Soul Calypso)

Neville Marcano, a.k.a., Growling Tiger
(1915-1993)
16
Site 4 Steel Band

• First Impressions
• Island music
• Aural Analysis
• Pan
• Engine Room
• Harmony
• Calypsoand Classical

17
Cultural Considerations

• History of the Pan
• Carnival indoors and outdoors
• Tamboo Bamboo
• World War II
• Pan yards Panorama
• International appeal

A panyard in Port of Spain, Trinidad
18
The Bahamas

• Site 5 Rhyming Spiritual

19
Arrival The Bahamas

• Columbus first discovery (1492)
• British loyalist refuge after American Revolution
  (1783)
  
• Cruise ships and coral reefs

20
Site 5 Rhyming Spiritual

• First Impressions
• Quaint Christian chorus
• Aural Analysis
• Basser, Falsetto and the Rhymer
• Overlapping call and response
• Hollow harmony
• Freer rhythm

21
Cultural Considerations

• Fledgling fishermen
• British Baptists
• Earth, sky, water and wind

Sponge Fishing--The Bahamasby Winslow Homer
(1885)
22
Cuba

• Site 6 Afro-Cuban Salsa

23
Arrival Cuba

• Havana and Cubas heyday
• Fidel Castro (b.1926)
• Latin rhythms

Fidel Castro (b.1926)
24
Site 6 Afro-Cuban Salsa

• First Impressions
• Latin Jazz sound
• Aural Analysis
• Jazz winds with various percussion
• Clave pattern and syncopation
• Vocals tell the story, group responds

25
Salsa Instruments
From top clockwise concerro (cowbell), maracas
(shakers), claves (wood sticks), cabasa (gourd
shaker), and guiro (scraper)
From bottom clockwise tumbador or conga drums,
bongo drums, timbales or pailes with concerro
26
Cultural Considerations

• Latin vs. Caribbean
• Santeria connection
• Latin dance crazes

A salsa group performs in Rochester, New York
27
The Dominican Republic

• Site 7 Merengue

28
Arrival The Dominican Republic

• Eastern region of Hispaniola
• Emphasis on European roots, i.e., Spain
• Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina (1891-1961)

Rafael Leonidas Trujillo Molina (r.1930-1961)
29
Site 7 Merengue

• First Impressions
• Thuddy drum, button box, scraping timekeeper
• Walking at quick pace
• Aural Analysis
• Tambora, accordion, guiro
• Rhythmically dense melody
• Call and responsevocals and accordion

L to R Tambora, saxophone, accordion, guiro
30
Cultural Considerations

• Folk vs. ballroom merengue
• Euro-African dance